REHAU Floating Shelves

Introduction

This document contains important safety information and instructions for the proper installation and use of REHAU floating shelves. To receive maximum satisfaction, and to reduce the risk of injury or property damage from improper installation or use, read and follow the warnings and instructions in this document. For updates, warranty information, and additional manufacturer's recommendations, visit na.rehau.com/resourcecenter.

Professional installation only. Proper installation is the responsibility of the installing contractor. Once installation is complete, the contractor must provide instructions to the home owner or end user for future reference.

Safety Information

Package Contents

Tools Required for Installation

• Electric drill/driver ?
• Pencil or marker ✏️
• Tape measure ?
• Stud finder [stud finder]
• Level ?

⚠️ WARNING: Always follow safety precautions specified by the tool manufacturer.

Installation Location

Proper installation requires choosing the right location for the floating shelf. Failure to install the floating shelf in a proper location can cause it to collapse.

• REHAU floating shelves are for indoor, household use only. Not for installation outdoors.
• Install the floating shelf on a wall with wooden internal framing that is free of electrical wiring, plumbing lines, or other obstructions.
• The floating shelf must be secured to wooden studs (2" x 4" nominal size) located 16" (40.6 cm) on center or closer. Never secure shelf into metal stud framing.
• Avoid in-wall electrical wiring and plumbing lines.
• The floating shelf was designed to be installed against painted drywall, up to 5/8" (1.6 cm) thick. Never install onto walls with coverings such as tile that increase the distance between the stud and face of the wall surface to more than 5/8" (1.6"). Such wall coverings will prevent the floating shelf brackets from properly securing to structural components of the wall.
• Never attempt to secure the shelf into masonry, concrete, brick, tile, or similar wall surfaces. These surfaces prevent the floating shelf brackets from properly securing to structural components of the wall.
• You must identify the centerline of wall studs and mount the floating shelf brackets on the centerline. Failure to center brackets on the studs could cause the shelf to collapse under load.
• Never mount the floating shelf over a heat source or in an area that experiences direct exposure to steam (e.g., over a dishwasher or boiling pot).

Installation Instructions

1. Once you have selected an appropriate location for your floating shelf, use a stud finder to locate all studs within the shelf span. Mark their location.

2. Position the MDF strip against the wall, with the arrows visible to the installer and pointing up. [Image: MDF strip positioned against a wall with arrows pointing up.]

3. Span the MDF strip over the number of wall studs identified in the table below, making sure that the distance from the center of the last wall stud to the end of the MDF strip does not exceed 14" (35.6 cm).

   Shelf Length	22" - 45" 56-114.3 cm	45" - 61" 114.3-155 cm	61" - 77" 155-195.6 cm	77" - 93" 195.6-236.2 cm	93"-96" 236.2-243.8 cm
   Minimum # of Wall Studs	2	3	4	5	6

4. Level the MDF strip and secure it to the wall using the drywall screws. Make sure the arrows are pointing up. [Image: MDF strip being leveled and secured to the wall with screws, arrows pointing up.]

5. Mark the MDF strip with the centerline of the wall stud. [Image: Pencil marking the centerline of a wall stud on the MDF strip.]

6. Position the floating shelf bracket on the MDF strip so that the bracket holes are centered on the wall stud. Mark hole locations with a pencil or marker. [Image: Floating shelf bracket positioned on the MDF strip, indicating where to mark for drilling.]

7. With the bracket removed, drill holes in the center of the hole locations. Use a 5/32" or smaller drill bit and drill through the MDF into the wall stud. [Image: Drill bit entering the marked hole location on the MDF strip and into the wall stud.]

   ⚠️ WARNING: Proper installation requires the brackets to be centered over the wall studs. Failure to center the drill holes can prevent the brackets from securing properly to the studs, which can cause the floating shelf to collapse under load.

8. Using the T25 bit, screw in two 3-1/8" RSS screws per bracket. Both screws must be secured into the wall studs. Make sure the brackets are straight and level, then screw the RSS screws until the screw heads are tightly seated on the bracket. [Image: T25 bit driving RSS screws into the bracket and wall stud.]

9. Repeat the above step for each floating shelf bracket. You must use the number of brackets specified below, which is based on the length of your shelf. In some cases, this means you may not be required to use all brackets supplied.

   Shelf Length	22" - 45" 56-114.3 cm	45" - 61" 114.3-155 cm	61" - 77" 155-195.6 cm	77" - 93" 195.6-236.2 cm	93"-96" 236.2-243.8 cm
   Minimum # of Brackets to be Anchored to Wall Studs	2	3	4	5	6

   ⚠️ WARNING: Failure to use the required number of brackets increases the risk of the floating shelf collapsing, which could result in personal injury or property damage.

10. Use a level to confirm the brackets are level with each other. If the brackets are not level, check that the RSS screws are properly seated on the bracket. Do not attempt to bend the bracket, this will compromise its strength and integrity. [Image: Level being used to check bracket alignment.]

11. Install the foam blocks on each end bracket with the foam surface facing down and the cardboard surface facing up. Place foam blocks only on the two brackets closest to the floating shelf ends. [Image: Foam blocks being placed on the brackets.]

12. Slide the floating shelf over the brackets and up against the wall. The shelf should remain fixed on the brackets. If installed properly, the floating shelf can only be removed by lifting it up off the bracket and pulling it away from the wall. [Image: Floating shelf being slid onto the installed brackets.]

    NOTICE: The floating shelf has a "self-locking" feature. There is an internal groove inside the floating shelf that will hook onto the raised tip of the bracket and when properly seated, the shelf should not be able to be pulled forward. See cutaway, below.

    [Image: Cutaway view showing the internal groove of the shelf engaging with the bracket tip.]

13. Verify that the floating shelf is level across both the length and the depth of the surface. [Image: Level being used to check the top surface of the installed floating shelf.]

    ⚠️ WARNING: REHAU floating shelves are designed to hold up to 15 pounds/foot (22.3 kg/m) when properly installed. Never exceed the maximum total load or maximum per-foot load. Exceeding the load rating increases the risk of personal injury or property damage from shelf collapse.

Notes

• Leave these instructions with the homeowner or end user of this product after installation.
• REHAU floating shelves are designed to hold up to 15 pounds/foot (22.3 kg/m) when properly installed. Never exceed the maximum total load or maximum per-foot load specified by REHAU.
• Make sure the homeowner or end user of this product understands the 15 pound/foot load limit for this floating shelf.
• A label with the floating shelf's load rating is found on the front face of the shelf. It is to be removed by the homeowner or end user only.

Raw MDF

Raw MDF floating shelves are an unfinished standard-grade MDF. It is expected that the customer has access to finishing capabilities to prep and finish the product to their own standards and expectations and assumes full responsibility for the finish. The quality of the finished shelf is up to the customer. The shelf cannot be mechanically modified, including but not limited to cutting, drilling, adding hardware, etc. It is suggested to practice on a spare piece of MDF to determine the desired finish.